(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Tyler County Fair royalty ride in the New Martinsville Christmas Parade on Nov. 30.

Santa Claus made an early appearance in New Martinsville on Nov. 30, ushering in the season of giving during the city’s Christmas parade.

Wearing his fluffy white beard and signature red suit, Santa’s eye twinkled as he waved to all the good boys and girls in the crowd on Main Street.

St. Nick, who rode in his sleigh atop a float during the parade, was led by members of the Magnolia High School Marching Band.

Preceding the Top Elf were a variety of floats, dance teams, queens, princesses, church groups, businesses, police and fire departments and more.

Though the temperature was freezing, hundreds of people lined the street to watch the parade and scoop up free candy thrown from the floats. Most people bundled up with coats, hats and gloves, and still others added an additional layer with a blanket or two. Some of the downtown shops were still serving coffee and hot cocoa to help parade-goers stay warm.

Before the parade began, Christmas In The Ville activities took place downtown including a craft and vendor fair on the third floor of Stalder’s Parlor on Main.

Among them were Amy Pierce and her daughter Zoe Buccella of NiftyThingsRFun. They were selling vintage books dubbed “a blind date with a book.” Each book was wrapped in decorative paper. Pierce noted the day of selling went well.

“It was fun and there were lots of people here,” Pierce said.

Marsha Richmond, who was selling Tupperware via her Keepin it Fresh With Marsh business, also enjoyed the vendor fair. She said she enjoys the Christmas season.

“I like to see all the people out shopping,” she said. “It seems like everyone is happy.”

Following the vendor fair, Richmond joined members of her church, First Church of God, 255 Russell Ave., New Martinsville, who marched during the parade. They were promoting the church’s upcoming “Journey Through Bethlehem” event, slated from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 6-8. People are invited to walk through the journey and “experience a moment of the night Christ, our savior, was born.”